A Light in a World of Darkness

[Rhyvurg]

Spoiler

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The following applies to all characters

You regain consciousness in the dark. There's a musty smell and something is pressing on your face, making it hard (for those who still do) to breathe. As your senses return, you see pinpricks of light filtering through the bag over your head, and moving shadows that probably means other people. You're sitting on the floor, bound to heavy pipes with thick chains. It feels cold and damp, like you're in a basement or maybe a storm drain. The light flickers, and you realize it's firelight. You have no memory of how you got here, or how you were subdued. Just an explosion of pain, and then nothing. Footsteps pass close to you, back and forth, as someone paces.

"He's late."
"He's always late, relax."
"Don't tell me to relax, they'll be waking up soon, and those chains might not hold some of them. It's hard enough finding the right sacrifices, it might be weeks before we can find others if something happens."
"If they break free, we can handle them. Remember what we've become."
The pacer stops. "Not all of us are as...fortunate as you. We don't all have the same gifts."
"You will, soon."
"I just want this to be over with. If the Prince knew what we've been doing..."
"He'd send his Sheriff, and we would kill him."
"Ha, just like that? Because everything is sooo easy for you, right? You and that museum piece."
"When we're complete, I'll make you one."
"I don't need your charity!"

The argument stops as others walk in, maybe two or three more. In the silence, you can hear wood hitting wood, and the slight creak of a hinge. "Gentlemen, if you will take your implements, we can get started..."

Spoiler: It begins!

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You can use any powers or skills you have to free yourself, your captors are distracted and will ignore most sounds coming from their prisoners. You have only a little time before they do whatever it is they kidnapped you for.

[Necroticplague]

John might not exactly be the sharpest knife in the refrigerator, but it doesn't exactly take a genius to figure out what's going on. Motherf***s plan on staking him! They were right on one thing, though: these chains wouldn't keep him for long. His dead heart gives a spiteful pump, filling him with the cold strength of the dead. With this, frosty sinews pull at cold chains, the metal creaking at the force.

Spoiler: Actions!

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Blow a blood point on Vigor. This brings me down to 3 blood points.
Athletics check to break these chains: (12d10)[7][4][1][4][5][5][10][5][4][9][4][7](65)

[dancrilis]

Azra

This was simply not good - she knew the order had some bad habits but this seemed different from ones she had seen. Attuning her scenes to her surroundings she attempted to pick out the areas of interest - did she recognise the voices and the others, could she see anything she could use as a tool for the lock, was the there any weak points where she was based that someone might be able to break etc.

If should could get a suitable tool she might be able to pick the lock trapping her - and possible the others.

Spoiler: Actions

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Use Auspex to get a full understanding of the situation.

If she get access to a tool (hair pin, long screw, whatever) she will use that to attempt to pick the lock.
Dexterity+Larceny: (3d10)[8][5][9](22)
Dark should likely not apply due to Auspex, however poor quality tools might have a minus (or people close by).

Rolling two more times for the sake of speed, representing 12 second work in total.
Dexterity+Larceny: (3d10)[7][6][7](20)
Dexterity+Larceny: (3d10)[7][10][4](21)
Dexterity+Larceny: (3d10)[3][7][7](17)

[Chivy]

Maghera kept very still as her mental faculties slowly returned. The first thing that she realised was that she wasn't in any state that she would willingly be in. She couldn't move very much and a coarse hood stopped her from seeing where she was, but there were people in the same place as she was and they were talking. Fear that was already simmering inside her jumped up and gripped her throat at hearing one of her captors mention “sacrifices”.

Breathe slowly.

Her gheist’s voice was burnt paper drenched in tears and left a salty taste in her mouth as well as a shudder down her spine, but it did remind her to slow down her breathing. Unconscious people rarely hyperventilated. The concentration required also focused her on the situation at hand instead of trying to figure out what had happened. She moved slightly and took note of all she felt around her. Chains tied her down to metal round... probably pipes. Two people held her captive, they’d most likely be armed. "SacrificeS" meant that there might be others with her, hopefully they might be able to help her if she could help them escape.

Escape. That was what she needed to focus on. She felt around the chains keeping her down and found the padlock holding the chains together. She then took a deep breath and invited her gheist deeped inside of her, fusing tighter together. With the gheist's plasm inside of her veins the padlock melded into her flesh. A twitch of a muscle later and the lock jumped open, releasing the chains. Another thought and the lock disappeared into her hand again.

Squealing metal informed her that somebody, hopefully another prisoner, was trying to break something. At the very least it could prove to be a distraction that she could use...

Spoiler: Rolls from the OOC

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Unlocking Industrial Caul: (7d10)[4][5][1][8][7][6][9](40)

[Rhyvurg]

John might not exactly be the sharpest knife in the refrigerator, but it doesn't exactly take a genius to figure out what's going on. Motherf***s plan on staking him! They were right on one thing, though: these chains wouldn't keep him for long. His dead heart gives a spiteful pump, filling him with the cold strength of the dead. With this, frosty sinews pull at cold chains, the metal creaking at the force.

Spoiler: Actions!

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Blow a blood point on Vigor. This brings me down to 3 blood points.
Athletics check to break these chains: [roll0]

With a metallic ping, the chains snap, causing their captors to spin around.

Azra

This was simply not good - she knew the order had some bad habits but this seemed different from ones she had seen. Attuning her scenes to her surroundings she attempted to pick out the areas of interest - did she recognise the voices and the others, could she see anything she could use as a tool for the lock, was the there any weak points where she was based that someone might be able to break etc.

If should could get a suitable tool she might be able to pick the lock trapping her - and possible the others.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Use Auspex to get a full understanding of the situation.

If she get access to a tool (hair pin, long screw, whatever) she will use that to attempt to pick the lock.
Dexterity+Larceny: [roll0]
Dark should likely not apply due to Auspex, however poor quality tools might have a minus (or people close by).

Rolling two more times for the sake of speed, representing 12 second work in total.
Dexterity+Larceny: [roll1]
Dexterity+Larceny: [roll2]
Dexterity+Larceny: [roll3]

Axra finds an old nail on the floor and easily picks the lock, but their captors are alerted by someone else breaking free the hard way.

Maghera kept very still as her mental faculties slowly returned. The first thing that she realised was that she wasn't in any state that she would willingly be in. She couldn't move very much and a coarse hood stopped her from seeing where she was, but there were people in the same place as she was and they were talking. Fear that was already simmering inside her jumped up and gripped her throat at hearing one of her captors mention “sacrifices”.

Breathe slowly.

Her gheist’s voice was burnt paper drenched in tears and left a salty taste in her mouth as well as a shudder down her spine, but it did remind her to slow down her breathing. Unconscious people rarely hyperventilated. The concentration required also focused her on the situation at hand instead of trying to figure out what had happened. She moved slightly and took note of all she felt around her. Chains tied her down to metal round... probably pipes. Two people held her captive, they’d most likely be armed. "SacrificeS" meant that there might be others with her, hopefully they might be able to help her if she could help them escape.

Escape. That was what she needed to focus on. She felt around the chains keeping her down and found the padlock holding the chains together. She then took a deep breath and invited her gheist deeped inside of her, fusing tighter together. With the gheist's plasm inside of her veins the padlock melded into her flesh. A twitch of a muscle later and the lock jumped open, releasing the chains. Another thought and the lock disappeared into her hand again.

Squealing metal informed her that somebody, hopefully another prisoner, was trying to break something. At the very least it could prove to be a distraction that she could use...

Spoiler: Rolls from the OOC

Show

Unlocking Industrial Caul: (7d10)[4][5][1][8][7][6][9](40)

The chains go slack, freeing her arms. It will take a few moments to disentangle herself.

[Zarthrax]

Alex groggily shakes his head as he listens to the ranting cultists, or so he assumes them to be.

Jeez, the wannabes are out in force tonight.

He struggles against the chains, hoping to weaken them enough to wiggle free before the traitorous scum attempted to kill him on behalf of their dead masters...

Spoiler: OOC-

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Rolls form the OOC-

Rolls to break chains - (4d10)[8][9][9][7]

[dancrilis]

Azra

She nearly cursed under her breath - and would have done so had she actually had breath, some one just had to decide to pick a fight.
Looking around her she took in her fellows, noting the signs of life within them - or not as the case was - so not only was this a dangerous situation but one where the masquerade needed to be upheld.

Turning her ear to the those that were approaching she tried to count them - three certainly but there could be other cultists, the mention of a prince and sheriff meant Kindred and likely ghouls, this was bad.

She needed an escape route, looking to the ceiling for ventilation or the walls for a back door, if a fight needed to occur those better suited to it could handle that.

[Chivy]

Maghera

As soon as the chains fell slack, Maghera wiggled her hands loose. She then quickly ripped the hood from her head and took a quick look around, taking note of her surroundings and the immediate threats, before starting to disentangling herself from her bindings.

Spoiler: Game info

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Last post I used 1 plams of course. Leaving me at 13/14 plasm

[Rhyvurg]

They're in a small room, lit by candles and torches. There's only one visible way out, a heavy steel door that's currently closed. Facing them is a group, four individuals. One of them is wearing a blood-splattered lab coat and wearing some rather large goggles. He's holding a small wooden box and has no visible weapons. Another is wearing biker leathers, his hands morphed into claws. His skin is extremely pale. Standing next to him is a man in a suit, holding either a large knife or a small sword, made of a single piece of black metal. The last person is a nervous-looking man cradling a large assault rifle, standing apart from the others.

((Roll for initiative!))

[dancrilis]

Azra

Noticing that the others had reacted slower than her she made a run for it, moving past those opposing her swiftly, hopefully the would deal with the slow first while she could see about getting assistance from the prince.

[Zarthrax]

Alex quickly follows suit, turning tail and following the other person who made for an exit.

[Necroticplague]

Unlike the others who were so quick to start fleeing, John was a taking a fairl bit more aggrassive route. After all, having no clue where they are, he'd probably run into a dead end and get caught if he ran. So instead of running for the door, John runs for the people, though he pretends to be following them before a strong stomp send him practically flying at the group, intending to leave the ones with blades and box (which probably contains blades) down before they can try something. The gun guy is less of a concern for now.

Spoiler: Actions!

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Gonna blow a point of willpower to bring me down to 7 to use Dirty Fighting's 4-dot ability to make melee attacks against all 3 in a group. Going all-out for +2 dice, while giving up my defence. Pool is 7 str+4 brawl+1 specialization+2all-out=14. Kung fu means armor decrease to pool is lowered by one. Any who take damage in excess of their composure looses next action and must roll stamina vs unconcious.

Target1("Claws"):(14d10)[8][7][1][8][10][3][2][10][1][6][10][10][10][6](92)
And in case of 10-agains:(14d10)[10][7][4][2][7][1][4][1][3][8][4][6][7][3](67)
Target2("Shanks"):(14d10)[8][5][4][5][1][4][3][1][7][4][10][7][10][10](79)
And in case of 10-agains:(14d10)[6][9][6][6][5][9][8][2][10][1][3][3][9][6](83)
Target3("Doc"):(14d10)[9][5][8][6][9][1][1][10][5][3][10][1][7][10](85)
And in case of 10-agains:(14d10)[7][6][10][3][5][5][8][10][4][5][1][4][6][3](77)

[Chivy]

Seeing two of her fellow captives run for the hills and another one hurl himself at three of their captors, Maghera’s eyes locked on the fourth man toting the assault rifle. He’d cut them down as soon as he gathered his wits, so reacting more than thinking, she launched herself at the fourth captor, trying to wrestle the gun away from him.

Spoiler: Actions

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Attempting to disarm pew-pew.
Strength: 1 + Brawl 0 – 1 due to being untrained + 3 due to willpower + 2 for an all out attack.
(5d10)[10][5][8][2][2](27)
Possible 10 agains:
(5d10)[2][4][4][7][6](23)

Tem willpower goes from 5 to 4.

[Rhyvurg]

Azra darts out of the room, finding herself in a slightly larger area, it looks like a section of subway closed off by cave-ins. It smells like old sewage, but seems free of rats and bums. Excellent for privacy. On the far side of the tunnel is a hole in the wall, with a light on the far side. Alex arrives a second behind her.

John strikes all his targets, but "Shanks" is protected by what looks like old-fashined mail armor under his shirt. Doc is clearly wounded, but the claw guy is still on his feet.

Maghera catches her target completely off guard, and the rifle hit the floor. Looking shocked, the man turns to flee.

"Shanks" responds to John's attack in kind, bringing the black blade up in a strike that couldn't possibly have any leverage behind it. But the seemingly useless strike nearly guts him, giving him a cut across his belly. (1 lethal damage)

"Claws" doesn't stop to fight, he leaps out of the room after Alex and Azra, clearing them in a single bound and landing in front of the hole in the wall, as if he had floated on thin air. "Not so fast, pretty..."

"Doc" does nothing, holding broken ribs and trying to get the box open.

"Pew-pew" panics and runs for it, nearly running into Alex.

[Zarthrax]

Frowning at the sudden appearance of "Claws", Alex thinks quickly.

Hearing the man with the gun coming, he turns and whacks him in the face hard, hoping to stun him into dropping the gun....

Brawl 1 + Strength 2- (3d10)[6][2][3](11)

[dancrilis]

Azra

She was not a fighter - nor did she intend to try her hand at in a unlife or possible final death situation, she darted on relying on her hightened senses to ensure she didn't misstep.

[Necroticplague]

Seeing "Doc" continue to reach for the box when he's this battered only re-afirms John's suspicions that its hot something dangerous in it. To try and prevent this, he again goes for a feignt. This time, it looks like a wide hook towards Shanks, but then john takes a step back mid-swing and slams his hand into Docs broken ribs. His own gut barely bothers him for now, it'll take a lot more than that to put him down.

Spoiler: Action!

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Brawl attack against Doc. Pool is 7 str+4 brawl+1 specialization=12. Kung fu means armor decrease to pool is lowered by one. Any who take damage in excess of their composure looses next action and must roll stamina vs unconcious.

(12d10)[4][6][10][9][9][7][8][10][3][6][9][2](83)
In case of 10-again:(12d10)[3][6][2][5][8][9][6][7][2][3][6][8](65)

Note: Atavism lets me base my defense off of higher of Wits or Dex, meaning my Defense is 2.

[Chivy]

Maghera

A satisfied grin was already spreading across her face as she watched the now-gunless man run from the room. She then bent down and picked up the assault rifle she had beat from her captor’s hands.

She grunted at the weight of the weapon, but was able to get a good grip on it and point the business end of it in the general direction of the three remaining people in the room.

FREEZE!! she yelled in her best imitation of the commanding tone used in cop shows for years. She wasn't going to shoot anybody in cold blood, even if they were low-life cultists.

[Rhyvurg]

Alex misses the fleeing gunman, who hurries across the tunnel towards the hole in the wall until "Claws" stops him. "What are you running for? Kill 'em!" "But I can't, I need a gun to do...that!" With a snarl, "Claws" shoves him at Azra as she tries to cross the room, sending them both sprawling.

"Doc" screams as his ribs cave in, but John feels burning ice in his back as "Shanks" plunges his blade home. (4 lethal damage). But when Maghera points a gun at him, he does indeed freeze, stepping back from John and Doc.

[Zarthrax]

Alex ponders his options.

Holding up his finger for a second, he opens his mouth like he's going to speak...


...then immediately turns tail and runs back to the other room as fast as he can.

[dancrilis]

Azra

Picking herself up as quickly as she could she simple keep running, she considered that she might be better fighting - and trying to feed, but she would never have a chance to finish a meal - and the clawed one might be able to do serious damage.

[Rhyvurg]

Arza darts though the hole in the tunnel wall, entering a room lined with tiny metal drawers, each with it's own keyhole. At the far end is the explanation for this strange place. It's a vault door. The only way out is through a bank vault door, closed and locked up tight, and looking imposingly large enough to stop a tank. Alex joins her seconds later. The vault has a lower ceiling than the tunnel, and is far more cramped. And "Claws" is coming in through the hole. "Dammit, why couldn't you just let us take it? You're not even using it, and we need it!"

At Maghera's order, "Shank" drops his weapon, which makes a strangely loud thunk when it hits the floor, like it's not metal at all. "Doc" is still alive, but unable to do anything. John can hear their other would-be kidnappers in the tunnel outside, whispering loudly to each other.

[Necroticplague]

With the "doc" down for the count and "shanks" disarmed, John decides to try and tip things in his favor while sating his curiosity. Reaching down, he picks u[ the box "Doc" seemed so desperate to open and tries his hand at acquiring its contents himself.

[Chivy]

Maghera

Good, now pick up your friend and get over to those chains. She told "Shanks" while theatrically flipping the fire selector to full automatic. She then forced the open lock from her body, which fell from her hand and landed with a sound clank. With her foot she pushed it over towards the other captive who had stayed to fight.

Lumpy, if you’re done with the box how about you check them for any other weapons and tie them up in those chains... Then we’ll get some answers about what the hell we’re doing here.

[Zarthrax]

Hearing the clunk, Alex glances over and spots both the lock and a spare length of chains.

Grinning, he runs pell mell to grab both of them.

[Rhyvurg]

The box is locked, the mechanism operated by a kind of puzzle. Figuring it out could take time. Time enough to get stabbed in the back. "Shanks" doesn't object when he's chained, he looks...smug, somehow. "Doc" is far to wounded to move, and dragging him might kill him.

In the vault, Arza and Alex are facing off with "Claws", who looks unwilling to fight them alone, but unable to escape himself. Closing his eyes, a black...something flickers across his forehead, and his muscles start to swell with increased mass.

[dancrilis]

Arza

Holding her arm behind her back she began to use it to hit in combinations to the vault door, allowing her heightened senses to guide her mildly.

Still she needed to buy some time and immediately flashed back to a fat little boy on television for her answer "you can't have it because it is mine" - hopefully the banality of the answer would throw him a bit, "but perhaps we can cut a deal".

Spoiler: Rolls

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Fiddling with the lock:
Intelligence+Larcany:(5d10)[7][1][8][2][7](25)

Talking to claws:
Presence+Persuasion: (4d10)[5][2][2][1](10)

[Zarthrax]

Alex quickly loops the chain, then padlocks it, making an improvised flail.

"Okay, you vampiric bitch. Let's go."

(I assume that's all the action I have.)

[Necroticplague]

"You threatening the ones with claws out there to rip you apart, or insulting the one in here who just beat a man into a coma? Just give me a second."

For a moment, it looks as if the moment is to be spent messing with the puzzle box some more. Until the annoyed John lets the hand holding it drop, before charging at the chained, smug Shanks. Sure, he was in chains, but less than a minute before, so had John.

Spoiler: Actions

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Brawl, going All Out.

If the chain binding count as enough of being tied up or immobilized for this to cont as a killing blow, this does 14-(armor-1) damage. If he still has his defence;

(14d10)[6][1][8][7][9][8][9][5][6][1][6][5][7][4](82)
10-agains:(14d10)[2][2][5][9][8][1][2][10][6][10][2][6][6][8](77)
Kung fu means armor decrease to pool is lowered by one. Any who take damage in excess of their composure looses next action and must roll stamina vs unconcious.

[Chivy]

Maghera

Maghera watched in surprise as the breathing man fashioned a makeshift flail instead of tying their kidnappers up and the living-impaired one jumped the other vampire after snapping at her. Finally she just shrugged and said

Fine. You just remember that it’s a lot harder to make non-moving corpses talk, so don’t kill all of them. I still want answers why they did this.

She then walked towards the door opening of the other room while trying to keep quiet, leaving the two bloodthirsty men to vent their frustration at being kidnapped.

Spoiler: Rolls

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Stealth_&_Dexterity_1&3 - (4d10)[5][6][1][3](15)
Possible_Ten_Agains - (4d10)[3][3][5][8](19)